Conveying and power transmitting mechanism



y 1937- v. s. LARlONOFF-ROMANOVSKY I 8 CONVEYING AND POWER TRANSMITTING MECHANISM Filed March 4, 957 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 l3 VLADIMIR SL4 lf/O/VOFF-ROMA N0 vs/(y 30 2a a/ INVENTOR BY 71,1 ,0, Wm

ATTORNEY y v. s. LARlONOFF-ROMANOVSKY 2,086,189

CONVEYING AND POWER TRANSMITTING MECHANISM 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 v Filed March 4 INVENTOR 7 AM F. flflw ur 'ATTORNEY 1 Patented July 6, 1937 UNHTED STATES PATENT oFFic c CONVEYING AND POWER TRANSMITTING MECHANISM Vladimir S. Larionoff-Romanovsky, Philadelphia, Pa.

Application March 4, 1937, Serial No. 128,954

12 Claims. (Cl. 198-441) 55 joined together by pivots 3.

My invention relates to conveying and power transmitting mechanisms and has particular reference to mechanisms employing endless chains.

The object of my invention is to provide a mechanism which can be used for continuously conveying or transporting materials and objects. For this purpose I employ an endless chain movably supported on rollers or guides and provided with carrying buckets or containers, the chain being moved by an electric or other suitable motor through a special transmission.

Another object of my invention is to provide a conveyor with buckets on an endless chain, the buckets being moved to a loading point in a horizontal position for receiving materials or objects to be transported, a mechanism being also provided at an unloading or receiving point for turning the chain with the buckets at an angle so as to empty the buckets into other containers, such as railroad cars, or into storage piles. For this purpose I provide extension members pivotally or otherwise supported on the links of the chain, the outer portions of the extension members being curved so as to form a portion of a wheel or disc concentric with a roller over which the chain is guided at the unloading point, the members being pressed by a driving wheel so as to cause the chain to partly encircle the roller. The chain by this arrangement is turned at an 3 angle suiflcient to cause the buckets to spill their contents down into other receptacles.

Another object of my invention is to provide a mechanism for transmitting power by means of an endless chain wedged between a roller and a 5 driving wheel, the chain being provided with extension sectors forming a transmitting disc at the point of contact with the wheel.

My invention is more fully described in the accompanying specification and drawings in Which Fig. 1 is a fractional front elevational view of my mechanism as used for conveying materials.

Fig. 2 is a fractional topplan view of the same.

Fig. 3 is a detail view of the chain with'an ex- .15 tension member on the link.

Fig. 4 is a sectional elevatio-nal view of a modified mechanism as applied to transmitting power.

Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the same.

Fig. 6 is a detail view of a modified chain link 50 extension.

Fig. '7 is another view of the chain link extension.

My conveying and power transmitting mechanism consists of a chain formed of links I and 2 The end links are the curves.

chain may be formed in the shape of an'elongated joined together so as to form an endless chain which is movably supported on rollers 4', rotatively mounted on shafts 5 extending from brackets *6. The rollers are placed so as to extend the chain along points where materials are stored l I on a bracket I2 at a point where the material or freight must be unloaded from the. buckets into railroad cars l3 or into other suitable receptacles. Extension members M are supported by their lower ends on the pivots'3;

1 The guiding-rollers 4.v have flanges in order to prevent the chainirom sliding off the'roller on In many practicalapplications the oval or even a rectangle with curved corners, in

which case it will have straight portions as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The roller Ill in sucha case will have a cylindrical shape and the extensions l4 Will be straight in vertical direction as shown in Fig. 2. If the chainis guided on a curve at -the roller l0, then the latter must be preferably made curved as shown in Fig. 3, where it is denoted by the numeral l5,;'supporting the chain with curved extensions l6. 2

The upper portions ll of the extensions Mare curved to an approximately 'arcuate shape in such a manner that the arcs become concentric with the axis of the roller Iii when the chain moves over the latter. The links I and 2 are of a relatively narrow width at the bottom was to be able to encircle the roller ID if the latter'islof I a relatively small diameter. The arcs I! have teeth l8 on the outside meshing with teeth ll! of a wheel 29.

'a shaft 2| loosely supportedin' a bracket 22.

The wheel 20 rotates on the shaft 2l' witha certain clearance sothat it can exert pressure on the portions ll, pushing them down and thereby forcing the chain to partly encircle the roller l9 or to be partly wound on it as shown in Fig. 1.

The extensions l4 rest against each other in an inclined position on straight portions of the chain as shown at the left in Fig. 1.. On the curved -;portion of the chain, when it follows the curva- The latter is rotatively fitted on ture of the roller It], the members [4 become raised, coming successively in contact with the wheel 29. The latter thereby, when rotated in direction of an arrow 24, causes the chain to move in direction of an arrow 23, causing it also to partly encircle the roller H3.

The bending of the chain over the roller l0 causes the buckets I to be turned at right angles, spilling the contents into the cars l3. With the construction shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, pressure from the wheel 20 is distributed evenly on the chain through the two arcuate portions l! on each extension 14. These portions l1 expand outwardly so as to fit over each other or fold telescopically over the chain.

The shaft 2| also supports a rotary bracket 25 with an extension shaft 26 for a ball 21. The bracket fits over the shaft 2| with a clearance so as to allow the ball 21 to rest on the inner curved surface of the wheel 29. The ball by gravity takes the lowest position in the wheel, pressing the latter against the arcuate members I! and rotating on its shaft 26 when the wheel is rotated. The bracket 25 has an arm 28 at the side extending horizontally and having a yoke 29 at the end for an electric motor 39. The latter has rods 3| curved concentrically with the wheel and sliding in the holes in the ends of the yoke 29, being retained in the middle by springs 32. The motor has a pinion 33 in mesh with the teeth I9 for turning the wheel 20. The springs permit the motor to adjust itself so as to place the ball 21 nearer to the point of contact between the teeth l9 and I8.

A modified construction is shown in Figs. 4, 5, 6 and 7. The chain in this case is formed of links 34 joined together by pivots 35 so that the links are aligned at an angle to the chain. The links have extensions 36 in the shape of arcuate offset sectors, the arcuate upper edges in this case also forming concentric arcs when the chain is partly rolled over the roller 37. The latter is rotatively mounted on the end of an arm 38 which in turn rotates on a central vertical shaft 39 held in a base 49. The end of the arm 38 has a wheel 4| rolling in a circular rail 42.

The chain is bent into a circular shape concentric with the shaft 39, and the links with their extensions are bent into arcuate shape so that the chain represents an equatorial belt of a sphere. It is flexibly supported at certain intervals, on links 43 by long pivots 44. The upper ends of the links are pivoted on pins 45 on the ends of levers 46 rotatively supported on shafts 41 held in brackets 48. The outer ends of the levers 46 have counterweights 49 balancing the weight of the chain. The chain is longer than the circumference of the ring which it forms so that the links sag between the supporting links by the amount suflicient to permit the chain to be partly wound on the roller 31. The upper end 10f the shaft 39 has a sharp point 50 on which rests a cup-shaped bearing 5| of a wheel 52.

other end of the arm 54 is connected with an extension 56 of the arm 38.

The outer portion of the wheel is raised so as to lie horizontally against the curved portions of the link extensions 36 engaging them by friction. The ball has a ring 5! rolling on the wheel. The arm 54 has a pivot 58 supporting a bar 59 the other end of which supports an electric 3 .01901 9 W th a pinion 6| engaging gear teeth 62 on the periphery of the wheel 52. Current is delivered to the motor through the shaft 39, collector rings 63 and flexible brushes 64. TlTe motor in operation rises with the bar 59 until its weight balances its torque, causing the wheel 52 to rotate. The chain being stationary, the wheel turns around the shaft 39, bending the chain over the roller 37 thereby rotating the latter and causing also the arm 38 to rotate. The rotation is transmitted through gears 65 and 66 to a power shaft 61.

A ring 68 is adjustably supported on brackets 69 below the normal operating position of the wheel 52. The latter is placed on the ring when it is desired to relieve the chain from the pressure of the ball 53.

With my mechanism it is possible to obtain a very large gear reduction between the motor and the shaft 6'! and the ratio can be easily changed by substituting different pinions 6| on the motor shaft.

It is understood that my mechanism can be further modified without departing from the spirit of my invention as set forth in the accompanying claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A conveying and power transmitting mechanism comprising an endless chain, means to support the chain, a roller rotatively sup-ported under the chain, the chain being adapted to partly encircle the roller, a wheel rotatively supported above the roller, means to rotate the wheel, and curved extensions on the chain links adapted to extend between the chain and the wheel when the chain is partly encircling the roller, the ends of the extensions being curved so as to form arcs concentric with the roller when the chain is partly encircling the roller, the wheel being adapted to transmit rotation to the rollerthrough the extensions of the chain thereby causing relative movement between the chain and the axis of the roller.

2. A conveying and power transmitting mechanism comprising an endless chain, means to support the chain, a roller rotatively supported under the chain, the chain being adapted to partly encircle the roller, a wheel rotatively supported above the roller, means to rotate the wheel, curved extensions on the chain links adapted to extend between the chain and the wheel when the chain is partly wound on the roller, the end portions of the extensions being curved so as to form arcs concentric with the roller when the chain is partly wound on the roller, the wheel being adapted to transmit rotation to the roller through the extensions and the chain thereby producing relative movement between the chain and the axis of the roller, and means to press the wheel against the curved extensions.

3. A conveying and power transmitting mechanism comprising an endless chain, means to support the chain, a roller rotatively supported under the chain, the chain being adapted to partly encircle the roller, a wheel rotatively supported above the roller, means to rotate the wheel, curved extensions on the chain links adapted to extend between the wheel and the roller when the chain is partly encircling the roller, the end portions of the extensions being curved concentrically with the roller when the chain is encircling the roller, the wheel being adapted to transmit rotation to the roller through the extensions and the chain thereby producing relative movement between the roller and the chain, and

a weight movably supported on the wheel and adapted to press the wheel against the extensions at the point of contact therebetween.

4. A conveying and power transmitting mecha nism comprising an endless chain, means to support the chain, a roller rotatively supported under the chain, the chain being adapted to partly encircle the roller, a wheel rotatively supported above the roller, means to rotate the wheel, curved extensions on the chain links extending between the chain and the wheel and adapted to cause the chain to partly encircle the roller under pressure from the wheel, the wheel being adapted to transmit rotation to the roller through the chain with its extensions thereby producing relative movement between the chain and the axis of the roller, and a weight movably supported on the wheel and adapted to remain by gravity at the lowest point thereby pressing the wheel against the extensions of the chain links.

5. A conveying and power transmitting mechanism comprising an endless chain, means to support the chain, a roller rotatively supported under the chain, the chain being adapted to partly encircle the roller, a wheel rotatively supported above the roller, curved extensions on the chain links adapted to extend between the wheel and the roller when the chain is partly curved around the roller, the end portions of the extensions being curved so as to transmit rotary motion from the wheel to the roller thereby producing relative movement between the roller and the chain, a lever rotatively supported on the axis of the wheel, a heavy member rotatively supported on one arm of the lever and adapted to press by gravity on the wheel at its lowest point thereby causing the wheel to press against the chain and roller through the extensions, and an electric motor on the other arm of the lever adapted to rotate the wheel, the motor being adapted to be held at the side of the wheel by the weight of the heavy member.

6. A conveying and power transmitting mechanism comprising an endless chain, means to support the chain, a roller rotatively supported under the chain, the chain being adapted to partly encircle the roller, a wheel rotatively supported above the roller, means to rotate the wheel, means to press the wheel against the chain, and members extending from the links and telescopically engaging each other when the chain is in a substantially straightened position between its supports, the members being adapted to extend between the roller and the wheel, the outer portions of the members being curved so as to form rolling surfaces for the wheel, the wheel being adapted to transmit rotation to the roller through the members of the chain thereby forcing the chain to partly encircle the roller and causing relative movement between the chain and the axis of the roller.

'7. A conveying and power transmitting mechanism comprising an endless chain, means to movably support the chain, a roller rotatively supported under the chain, the chain being adapted to partly encircle the roller, a wheel rotatively supported above the roller, members extending from the chain links and adapted to form a curved contact surface between the roller and the wheel, means to press the wheel against the members thereby causing the chain to partly encircle the roller, means to rotate the wheel thereby causing the roller to rotate and the chain to move, and containers supported at the side of the chain in a substantially horizontal position and adapted to become inclined to the horizon when the chain is partly turned around the roller.

8. A conveying and powerltransmitting mechanism comprising an endless chain, means to movably support ,the chain, a plurality of containers at the side of the chain rigidly connected to the linksof the chain and adapted to remain in a horizontal position when the chain moves over the supporting means, a roller under the chain, a wheel adapted to engage the roller through the chain, means to rotate the wheel thereby moving the chain, and means to partly turn the chain around the roller thereby causing the container to take an angular position to the horizon.

9. A conveying and power transmitting mechanism comprising an endless chain consisting of links joined by pivots, the axes of the pivots being perpendicular to the plane of the chain, means to support the chain, a roller under the chain, a wheel rotatively supported above the roller, extension members on the chain adapted to be interposed between the roller and the wheel, means to press the wheel against the members thereby causing the chain to partly encircle the roller, and means to rotate the wheel thereby causing relative movement between the chain and the roller. 7

10. A conveying and power transmitting mechanism comprising an endless chain consisting of links with pivotal joints, the axes of the joints being approximately perpendicular to the plane of the chain, means tosupport the chain, a roller movably and rotatively supported under the chain, the chain being adapted to partly encircle the roller, a wheel rotatively and movably supported above the roller, extension members on the chain links adapted to extend between the roller and wheel, means to prevent longitudinal movement of the chain, and means to rotate the wheel thereby causing the roller to be rotated by the wheel through the chain and members and to be moved along the chain, the wheel being adapted to follow the roller.

11. A conveying and power transmitting mech- I anism comprising an endless circular chain having pivoted joints between its links in an approximately vertical alignment, the plane or" the chain being approximately horizontal, means to support the chain, means to prevent substantial partly wound on the roller, a second arm rotative-,

ly supported on the shaft, a wheel rotatively mounted onthe second arm above the roller, ex-

tension members on the chain adapted to extend between the roller and the wheel, means to press the wheel against the extension members thereby Cit causing the chain to be partly wound on the roller, and means to rotate the wheel thereby causing the roller to rotate on its axis and the arms to rotate on the shaft with the roller and wheel.

12. A conveying and power transmitting mechanism comprising an endless chain formed into a circle, the plane of the circle being substantially horizontal and perpendicular to the axes of the pivotal joints between the links of the chain,

means to support the chain, means to prevent substantial horizontal displacements of the chain, a vertical shaft in the center of the circle, an arm rotatively supported on the shaft, a roller the wheel thereby transmitting the rotation from the wheel to the roller, means to rotate the wheel, and a ball movably supported on the Wheel and.

adapted to press the wheel against the chain link extensions. VLADIMIR S. LARIONOFF-ROMANOVSKY. 

